Sexual Assault Awareness Month Marks 20th Year
New theme: “We Can Build Safe Online Spaces”
By Teresa Clyne, Programs for Peaceful Living
Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
2021 marks the twentieth anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) during the month of April with the theme, “We Can Build Safe Online Spaces.” The campaign calls to create online spaces that are built on the values of practicing consent, keeping kids safe, and supporting survivors.
Online sexual harassment and abuse can be traumatic, just like with abuse that takes place physically. It can threaten your sense of safety and overwhelm the nervous system in the same ways physical threats and in-person abusive incidents are experienced.
Locally in Klickitat County, Programs for Peaceful Living operates as a sexual assault resource center offering free and confidential services, with offices in Goldendale and Bingen. Advocates can help survivors of abuse, no matter when, or where the abuse occurred and regardless of whether a report was made to the police.
Support is also offered through platforms such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Volunteers offer their trained support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to survivors and their loved ones. Those looking for support, advice, or referrals can call the hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat safely online at https://www.rainn.org/.
In a less formal setting, survivors can also connect with online communities through message boards, forums and groups, such as “A resource for survivors and their loved ones” at https://www.reddit.com/r/rape/. This allows them to share their stories with others and to support one another.
It is important when communicating online to practice consent and to respect boundaries. If you don’t know what someone’s boundaries are, ask them. Some guidelines to online consent include:
Respect devices and accounts. It’s never okay to try to unlock someone else’s phone without permission or look through their inbox or texts.
Ask permission. Before posting a photo of someone else on social media and before reposting or re-sharing something personal, ask if it’s okay.
Get permission before sharing information outside of a one-on-one chat.
Give options when communicating. For example, agree on a platform and give the option to leave your webcam off during a video call.
Set time frames. Make your availability for activities like video calls clear and conduct them within the agreed-upon time frame.
Never assume. Specifically let your friend or colleague know you would like to video call, rather than assuming.
We all have the ability to positively influence others. You can help the people you care about question their harmful beliefs by speaking up if a friend makes jokes or comments about sexual assault, or by modeling what consent looks like with friends and family. To show your support for a survivor and victims of sexual assault, join advocates by wearing the color teal on Tuesdays throughout the month of April. Let’s all be part of the solution!
If you are in crisis call the Programs for Peaceful Living toll free 24/7 crisis line at 844-493-1709. For further information, or to reach a local advocate for a non-crisis situation, call the Goldendale office at (509) 773-6100 or the Bingen office at (509) 493-2662. Office hours are Monday-Thursday10 a.m.-5 p.m. or by appointments on Friday. Programs for Peaceful Living is a part of Washington Gorge Action Programs. Helping people. Changing lives.
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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and much more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.